A DEVASTATED family have paid tribute to their son who was killed in a tragic car smash on his way to work.

17-year-old Stephen Birmingham, an apprentice welder, of Dykin Road, Widnes, was travelling to work in Skelmersdale when he lost control on a bend and hit a tree side on.

Stephen and his passenger Niall Smith, also 17 and from Widnes, were found unconscious when the emergency services arrived.

After being freed from the wreckage and taken to hospital, Stephen, who had suffered multiple injuries, finally lost an eight hour fight for life.

Ken and Janet Birmingham, Stephen's parents, described their son as a 'free spirit' who loved fishing, playing rugby and spending time with his friends. He also enjoyed his work as a welder and was a keen motorist since passing his driving test and buying a black Ford Fiesta.

Stephen, a former Fairfield High pupil, had also been a member of Halton Hornets and had played for Widnes Schools and South Lancashire teams.

A Merseyside police spokeswoman said they were appealing for witnesses to the crash, which happened at 7.40am on Thursday, May 6, on Clock Face Road, St Helens, by the Bull and Dog pub. His parents are calling for safety railings on the bend.

Paramedics were first at the scene and firefighters called for heavy duty cutting equipment of the kind usually only used to free people from the wreckage of heavy goods vehicles.

Mersey Regional Ambulance Service said the smash was so serious that paramedics immediately called for a 'medical aid team' which includes a doctor and nurse who can work at the scene of incident were there is a likelihood of fatalities.

The passenger was said to have suffered severe injuries to the face, neck and chest and has been recovering in hospital.

Mr Birmingham told the Weekly News: 'Stephen was a free spirit who loved the outdoors and he lived for his mates, his car and fishing. He had hundreds of friends and there is not a bad one among them.

'Stephen would help anyone - one night he was out late and we found out he had stopped a man from jumping off Halton View Bridge. That's the kind of lad he was.

'He could wrap us round his little finger and we loved him.

'He was going to go to Majorca in August with his friends and it would have been his first holiday without the family.'